my hands up to accentuate the word. “Lost…” I smile broadly. “His phone.”
“I did lose my fucking phone that night.” He fires back. “Back me up here Stan. Did I lose my phone that night?” he asks.
Joshua smiles and nods. “Affirmative. He did.”
He points at me across the table. “And I was pissed that I lost your number.”
“I was kind of glad to be honest. I think I dodged a bullet.” I smile cheekily. The table erupts into laughter again.
This is a fun night. I can be myself and I feel comfortable.
“You won’t be dodging anything when we get home,” Cameron fires back.
“Ash, I have a charity ball on the weekend. You must come.” Natasha smiles.
My face falls. “Oh. Um…” I glance at Cameron.
His face lights up. “Yes! We can go away again.”
“You went away at the weekend?” Adrian asks, clearly surprised.
“I took Ash to New York.”
Natasha and Adrian’s eyes meet across the table in some kind of unspoken acknowledgement.
“Why didn’t you take the plane?” Joshua asks.
Cameron frowns. “Because then it would have been a thing and I would have had to explain who Ashley was.”
Joshua looks at Cameron, deadpan. “Then you bring her to my house three days later?” He raises his eyebrows. “That makes perfect sense.”
I burst out laughing. I like this guy. He’s dry as all hell. I clink my glass with Joshua’s and he smirks.
“He didn’t tell me we were coming here tonight,” I add.
Cameron sips his drink and smiles across the table.
“Why didn’t you tell her you were coming here?” Natasha asks.
“Because she probably wouldn’t have come.”
The table’s attention turns back to me. “Why wouldn’t you have come?” Adrian asks, surprised again.
“Honestly?” I smile bashfully.
“Yes, honestly?” Joshua replies, and I get the feeling that they are all really interested in my answer.
“Because Cameron hardly knows me and I didn’t want to be in the position of letting anyone down. Especially him. I think it was a bit too soon for me to be meeting the family.”
Joshua frowns, intrigued by my answer.
Cameron smiles softly across the table. “You’re refreshingly honest, Bloss.”
Our eyes lock and I feel a pull to him that can only be explained as magnetic.
“So will you come?” Natasha smiles. “At the weekend?”
My eyes flicker between her and Adrian. “What’s the dress code?” I ask.
“Black tie—”
“But you don’t need to worry about that. I’ll buy you a dress,” Cameron interrupts.
“No, that’s fine.” I smile softly. “Maybe I’ll give it a miss and come to the next one, if that’s okay. Thank you so much for the invitation, though.”
Cameron’s face falls. “Why don’t you want to come?”
God. Why is he so pushy? “You go with your family and I’ll just see you when you get back.” I smile.
“No. I want you to come. I’ll buy you a dress,” he asserts.
I frown. “Not now, Cameron.” God, he’s so annoying.
“Don’t not now me,” he snaps.
I glare at him. This money thing is really starting to piss me off. “You’re not buying me a dress. I’m fine without one.”
“What’s the big deal. He has the money. Let him buy you a dress,” Joshua intervenes as he sips his wine.
I turn my attention to him with a frown. “With all due respect, Joshua, butt out. This is none of your business.”
Joshua’s face falls in shock, and Natasha and Adrian burst out laughing. Adrian grabs my hand over the table. “Oh, I love you, Ashley.”
“Don’t worry about them, they have no idea.” Natasha smiles. “They have no idea how it feels to have a man buy you things. You feel owned,” she adds.
I smile, grateful that she gets it.
“This was really hard for me to get used to in the beginning.”
My eyes hold hers.
“We’re about the same size, aren’t we?” she asks.
I shrug, embarrassed that I just snapped at Joshua. My eyes flick to him and I can see he’s just as shocked as I am. God, I’m a rude bitch. I drain my champagne glass in one gulp.
“Adrian, I have lots of dresses that would fit Ashley, don’t I?”
Adrian smiles broadly. “Of course.”
I frown as my eyes find Adrian. “Adrian is the family stylist.” Natasha laughs. “He’s the only one around here with any taste.”
I smile, my cheeks still ablaze.
“Borrow one of my dresses and then you can pay for the dry cleaning bill.” Natasha smiles with a wink.
I fake a smile in return. “We’ll see,” I murmur.
Somehow it’s now Thursday and I still haven’t told Cameron about Owen. It’s getting harder and harder every day. Cameron has stayed